AFTER months of delays a housing developer has finally fully acquired Winchester's Fire Station.

Bargate Homes has completed its purchase of the station on North Walls which has stood empty since 2011 when the fire service moved to a new base on Easton Lane.

The 1930s buildings are being demolished and will be replaced by 15 homes.

Bargate managing director Angus Cook collected the keys from Dave Turner, group manager for Winchester, and Richard Kenchington from Hampshire County Council.

Mr Cook said: “This is an incredibly exciting project for us and is the fruition of a great deal of hard work with the Fire and Rescue Authority, Hampshire County Council, Winchester City Council and all relevant stakeholders to deliver an exemplary residential scheme on this landmark site.

“We know we can meet the challenge of transforming this prominent corner of the city into a development of which Winchester, and Bargate, can be truly proud.”

It comes after years of planning wrangles and changes to the project. A former design was criticised by residents in 2012 for being overdeveloped, while the now-approved scheme came under fire from councillors last year for providing no affordable homes.

Hampshire Chronicle:

The homes will be a mix of three and four-bed terraces with three two-bed bungalows accessed off Lower Brook Street.

Work on the site will start this month with first occupations expected around Easter 2016.

Meanwhile, the Fair Oak-based developer has secured a £25 million investment from Prowting Investments, allowing it to employ up to 200 new staff.

The team is currently developing 14 luxury homes on the site of the former Peugeot garage in Southgate Street. Other projects include Parkwood, an 11-home development on Andover Road, Chestnut Mead on Kingsgate Street and Silverwood in the city centre.